What to watch in Israel this week: Lansky’s Zionism, E.T. on Disney+, and the James Bond curse

A new KAN documentary series, 'Lansky – The Zionist Gangster,' explores Jewish American mobster Meyer Lansky's criminal empire and his surprising ties to Israel. The first episode covers his 1970s sojourn in Israel and his role in smuggling arms to Palestine. Also reviewed: 'E.T.' and 'Back to the Future' on Disney+, and the documentary 'Ian Fleming: The Curse of James Bond' on Yes VOD.

A new three-part KAN documentary series, 'Lansky – The Zionist Gangster,' directed by Avi Maor-Marzuk, explores the life of Jewish American mobster Meyer Lansky. The first episode, already available on kan.org.il, opens with Lansky's 1970s sojourn in Israel while fleeing US tax evasion charges. It features his only known television interview, where he discusses his quiet life reading history and walking his dog. The episode details his bootlegging during Prohibition, his failed Havana nightclub venture, and his role in establishing Las Vegas as a gambling hub. Historians argue for examining the Jewish role in organized crime. Subsequent episodes will cover Lansky's contributions to founding Israel, including smuggling arms via the longshoreman's union. The article also reviews 'E.T.' and 'Back to the Future' on Disney+, and the documentary 'Ian Fleming: The Curse of James Bond' on Yes VOD, which examines Fleming's wartime intelligence work and the mixed legacy of his James Bond creation.